Chemical injection device



Jan. 10, 1950 M. HARTWICK CHEMICAL INJECTION DEVICE Filed March 5, 1946gwu /wtoa LOUIS M. HARTWICK,

Patented Jan. 10, 1950 CHEMICAL INJ C IQN DEVICE Louis M. Hartwick,Beaver, Pa.; M. Josephine Hartwick administratrix of said Louis M. Hartwck. decease App cation Ma ch 6., ri N 6 2,175

2. Claims. (01.. na -a1) This invention relates to a chemical injectiondevice, and more particularly to such a device for the injection ofchemicals into a water system for the softening of the water.

A primary object of this invention is the'provision of an improveddevice for the automatic injection of chemicals into a watersystem,involving the use of hard water, for the purpose of softening the water.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a devicewhich will substantially automatically inject chemicals for the abovedescribed purpose into the system upon the opening of any tap .or faucetin the house.

A further object of the invention is the provifiiqnof such. a devicewhich will, through the above described injection of chemicals, precludethe clogging and congestion of the pipes of the system due to the actionof the chemicals present in so-called hard water. Still another objectof the invention is the provision of such a device which may be readilyrefilled and re-supplied with chemicals when desired.

A still further object of the invention is the provisionof such a devicewhich will be sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficientin operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture,utilize and assemble.

Other objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangements ofparts, and features of construction, all as Will be more fully pointedout hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein thereis shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic view, partially in section, and partially inelevation, disclosing the device of the instant invention as applied toa conventional hot water heating system.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, enlarged, taken substantially along theline 2--2 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by thearrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts of the drawingthroughout the several views.

Havin particular reference now to Figure 1, theme is generally indicatedat ID a hot water storage tank, provided with a hot water outlet l l,and a flushing outlet I2 provided with a valve l3, for flushingpurposes, operable by a rotatable handle The tank In is supplied withhot water by means of a fitting l-5 communicatin with a coil I6 throughwhich water is adapted to pass from 2 a cold water inlet 11, the devicebeing heated as by means of a gas burner I8, provided with fuel, asthrough an inlet pipe I 9.

While a gas burner is herein described, it will be readily apparent thatany other suitable means for heating the water-in the coil It may bepros vided as desired.

The inlet pipe I! is provided with a T- 20, in. communication with amain inlet 2! and from the base of which extends a pipe 22 communi,eating with a valve fitting 23, the valve being operable by a handle 24.

From one leg of the fitting 23 a pipe 25 extends into communication withthe chemical feeding device, generally indicated at 26, comprising thefeature of the instant invention, connection be, tween the two beingprovided by means of a threaded female aperture 21 in the device 26.

The device 26 includes, as best shown in Figure '2, a chemical chamberZR-having at its upper portion a male threaded portion 29, adapted to beengaged by a threaded cover or lid 30. The lid 30 is adapted to securein position an arcuate member 3|, having a centrally disposed aperture32 therein, in communication with a sealed air chamber in the upperportion thereof 33. A sealing gasket 34 is provided to preclude theescape of air from the chemical chamber 28.

The device at its base is provided with an outlet 35, and a filtermember 36, through which the chemical contained in the chamber 28 isadapted to be poured, in a manner to be described hereinafter. A ventingoutlet 39 is also provided, to which is secured a faucet 40, includingan inter nally positioned valve for drainage purposes, and provided withan operating handle 41.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readilyunderstandable. Upon removal of the cover member 30, the [chemicalchamber 28 is adapted to be filled with a suitable chemical, orchemicals, 'such for example as bydrated lime and caustic soda or sodaash, such chemicals being known as adapted to precipitate from so-calledhard water soluble lime and magnesia salts, such salts beingobjectionable in that they clog the piping of hot water systems throughwhich so-called hard water passes. In the operation of the device thechamber 28 is filled, as previously mentioned by the removal of thecover 30, and the cover 30 is re-positioned thereon. When the system isfilled with water, the pressure of the water in the system provides acompression of the air in the chamber 33. When any faucet in the watersystem is opened for the purpose of drawing ofi hot water, the pressurein the said apparatus comprising a chemical containing chambercomprising a vertical cylindrical hollow body, means on the lower end ofsaid body adapt I ed to be connected with the feed line to provide solecommunication between the interior of said chamber and the feed line, anair cushion chamber on the upper end of said hollow body, and

' means providing restricted communication bedevice which accomplishesall the objects of this invention, and others, including man advantagesof great practical utility and commercial importance. n

Iclaim: 1 i 1. Apparatus for injecting chemical material tween said aircushion chamber and the interior ,of said hollow body whereby an aircushion is 5 trapped under pressure in said air cushion chamber Whilethe system is under normal pressure "and water from said feed line"enters said chem- 1: ical containing chamber and mixes with thechemical therein, and whereby said air cushion expands upon a reductionin pressure in said sysinto the feed line of a pressure water system U Iical and water mixture from said chemical conwhenever the normalpressure of the system is containing chamber comprising a verticalcylindrical hollow body, means on the lower end of said body adapted tobe connected with the feed line to provide sole communication betweenthe interior of said chamber and the feed line, an'air cushion chamberon the upper end of said hollow body, and means providing restrictedcommunication between said air cushion chamber and the interior of saidhollow body whereby an air cushion is trapped under pressure in said aircushion chamber while the system is under normal prestem below normaland produces a flow of chemd d d apparatus comprising h i le tainingchamber into said feed line, said hollow body being open at its upperend to receive chemical, and said air cushion chamber comprising a sureand Water from said feed line enters said chemical containing chamberand mixes with the chemical therein, and whereby said air cushionexpands upon a reduction in pressure in said system below normal andproduces a flow of chemical and Water mixture from said chemicalcontaining chamber into said feed line, said hollow body being open atits upper end to receive chemical, and said air cushion chambercomprising a cover removably closing the upper end of said body, ahollow globe risin from said cover, and said restricted communicationmeans comprising a. relatively small diameter passage formed in saidcover and said globe and connecting the interior of said globe with theinterior of said hollow body. 2. Apparatus for injecting chemicalmaterial REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,676,134 vCoughan July 3, 19281,728,513 Smiley Sept. 17, 1929 1,855,323 Sirch Apr. 26, 1932 2,048,606Feutterer July 21, 1936 2,064,627 Paine Dec. 15, 1936 2,128,721 WattsAug. 30, 1938 2,224,101 Hegwein Dec. 3, 1940 2,362,606

Albertson et a1 Nov. 14, 1944

